The previous trip for the China Games with the Sacramento Kings was a phenomenal success. The NBA did not go back to China before this season and is determined to return in the preseason prior to the Beijing Olympics in 2008. The Rockets seemed a sure bet if only because Yao Ming is still with the Rockets.

They apparently were wrong. The details have not been finalized and there have been more changes than on Larry Brown's r¨¦sum¨¦. But at the moment, it appears the league will send Orlando and Cleveland to China.

The Rockets are not heartbroken to be left off the schedule. The travel is incredibly taxing during the preseason. It is not something to take on with ambivalence.

"The league approached us about going," Rockets CEO Tad Brown said. "I talked to Mr. (Leslie) Alexander about it. Yao Ming going to China ... is unbelievable. We know and Mr. Alexander was very clear, if we felt there would be a competitive disadvantage for our players and coaches and especially Yao Ming, it would be best to sit this one out.

"The league had a number of teams approach them. It was a no-brainer for Les. We've been there and done that. We didn't want to grind down the big guy and players before the season starts."

The NBA was hoping to have the deals completed by the All-Star weekend when it announced its Europe Live schedule. Instead, David Stern had to guess he would need about two more weeks. It appears the NBA will play in two cities from among Beijing and Shanghai (the China Games destinations), Macau and Guangzhou.

But it might seem odd to have two NBA teams in China while Yao practices in Austin.

Yet, this is exactly the right thing to do.

As much as China loves its greatest player, he will not play forever. The NBA, already sending a full schedule of games to Chinese television, would love to plant roots that go far deeper than an interest in one player.

If the Cavaliers and Magic make the trip, the NBA will be sending LeBron James and Dwight Howard, two of its most marketable young players.

Many of the Europe Live events have returned NBA stars to their fans. Tony Parker's games in Paris were as great a success as Yao's in Shanghai. But Stern's passion for globalization is not about reminding international markets that players from around the world now play in the NBA.

It is to showcase the NBA to those markets.

Markets don't get any bigger than China. China loves Yao. Stern would like it to love the NBA. And the Rockets will be thrilled to go no further than Austin.